Educate Yourself

What gets me the most are these woman that have never gone through this experience and feel as if they know everything! I mean, those types that can't back up their so called 'facts' or the ones that want to tell you how to do something or what to eat or what not to eat and yadda yadda yadda. Well, I've had it. I just tell them, maybe you should check your facts with a valid source and not shows like ER or House or something you saw on the mainstream media.

For three years I have been reading about and studying pregnancy and birth. I knew I had to be prepared for when it happened. I read blogs, I watched documentaries, I spoke with tons of women that have gone through this experience, and I've read books, websites, articles, etc etc. I know we can't believe everything we read and everything we hear, but I do beleive in educating myself to understand better than I would have yesterday.

Besides some of the women at work telling me what not to eat, there was one that said "Don't be a hero take the drugs. The birth will be much more enjoyable." Ok, that is after she had asked me what type of birth I was planning and I said a natural birth, I then informed her of the research I had done on epidurals slowing down labor, causing spinal headaches for the rest of your life, baby's side effects, possible paralysis, no feeling in your lower body so you never know when to push unless you feel like watching a contraction monitor. Sound like fun? NOT! Everyone knows there own pain thresh hold and more power to woman who make that informed decision, but for this person to say that with a snooty know-it-all attitude, I about wanted to kick her in the face. Ok, that was a mood swing though! Ha!

I have decided that I will have a natural birth. However, if I am induced with pitocin or oxytocin, which cause contractions to be a thousand times worse, then I would consider an epidural, but that also increases your chances for a cesarean. Then there's the question of using a doula, which I understand a lot of people really don't understand since it is fairly new in our society. My first reaction to getting pregnant was that I wanted to use a midwife. Well, thanks to my horrible insurance I have no option for a midwife, they won't even pay as out of network, they said it is too risky. So my second best choice is to use an obstetrician with the aid of a doula. Since doula's are somewhat new on the seen of childbirth, especially there use in hospitals, I wanted to provide some information as to what a doula is and why they are helpful.

A doula is trained and experienced in supporting women and their partners during childbirth. The doula's role is to help a woman have the most satisfying birth possible - as you would define it and as it unfolds. She learns the woman's wishes for a birth plan and remains with you during the labor, birth, and then for about two hours after the birth. Doulas also are very helpful in helping you ask the right questions to get correct information you need to make an informed decision about your care. The doula is the mother's advocate and is focused on the mother's expected birth experience and also help you transition if anything should go wrong and astray from you planned birth experience. She is there for support.

Benefits of hiring a doula:

• Improved physical and psychological outcomes for mother and baby
• 25% shorter labors
• 40% reduction in use of induction meds
• 50% reduction of cesareans
• 30% less forcept and vacuum extraction
• 60% reduction for epidurals
• fewer requests for pain medication because she can help with breathing techniques, positions, massage, etc
• Better postpartum outcomes
• More successful breastfeeding

Ok, that is just a few things. For my first child, I want to use a doula. A typical doula will interview the hubby and wife first and we interview her to make sure it is a good fit with each others personality. Then she meets with the woman two or three more times to get to know each other and discuss plans and expectations. Then she is on call and with the woman for the entire labor and birth. My Dr. highly recommended using a doula, which was my first impression that she is a considerate Dr., plus that and she probably doesn't want to have to do all the work. She's really just there for the pushing part anyway.

Does this make me a weak woman? Hell no, this make me an informed woman. I have wonderful support that will be there in the hospital; Dan, Hil, Aunt Pat, and maybe my mom if she can fly out in time. But maybe when all these people are in the room, I'll change my mind and want to be alone. No one knows what they will be like when labor kicks in. Will I scream? Will I cry? Will I turn completely inward and ignore everyone else there? Will I glow? Will I laugh? I don't know. That is why on this first round, I do feel like I want that support, not only from my family, but also from a trained labor coach.

I'll be interviewing doulas in the next couple of weeks. Wish me luck!